Barley phylloplane is seriously colonized by Drechslera graminea, the causal agent of leaf
stripe disease in the hos. The present study involved the elucidation of alterations induced
in the protein content of the host due to Drechslera infection. Naturally growing barley
plants were obtained from fields and Drechslera graminea was isolated and identified from
diseased plants’ leaves. After identification and preparation of the pure culture, the pathogen
was inoculated on plants grown under aseptic and controlled laboratory conditions.
Changes in the total soluble cytoplasmic proteins and defense enzymes of the host such
as polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POX), phenylalanine lyase (PAL) and tyrosine
ammonia lyase (TAL) were observed up to 5 h after inoculation. The results demonstrated
a significant effect of the pathogen on the cytoplasmic protein expression of the host as well
as in its defense system.